Story Development

Synopsis

Mohinder and Matt stand outside their hotel room, discussing their views on whether they should run and hide or act against their hunters. As they walk downstairs, they meet a just-returned Peter. He extracts a bottle of phenobarbitol from the trunk of his car, explaining that one dose will knock Noah out cold. After some further discussion as to whether what they're doing is right or not - Peter and Mohinder are uncomfortable with drugging Noah - Matt convinces them it is, and they drive off to capture their quarry.

Meanwhile, Noah is in a pub drinking whiskey and talking to the bartender. His vision begins to blur, and within seconds, he falls to the ground unconscious. As he falls, Mohinder and Peter converge on him and lift him up. Matt makes an excuse to the bartender, and the three of them exit with Bennet. They take him to their hotel for interrogation.

With the help of the drugs, Matt breaks through Noah's defenses with ease. In an uncovered memory from five weeks prior, Noah and Angela are discussing the Company. Noah argues that even without Primatech, the company should still be operational, as their work was important. Angela simply tells him it's all over, and hands him an envelope containing his "pension and severance" for all his years as an agent. As a personal gesture, she gives him a watch - a traditional retirement present. He presses his belief that the company's work must continue, but she resists. She simply responds that she's tired, and doesn't believe in the cause anymore - her new cause is saving her family. She appeals to his sense of duty and family, telling him they won, and he can enjoy his reward as a father and husband. A lost Noah remarks that this is all he's ever known and ponders what he'll do now. Angela tells him to take care of Claire- and himself.

Back in the hotel room, Matt realizes he can pick Noah's brain for whatever information they need; they can discover who is hunting them, and why. Mohinder asks him how far he's willing to go to get what they need. Matt, with anger in his eyes, states he'll go as far as he has to.

In the operations center of Building 26, a concerned Danko tells Nathan Noah has gone off the grid. Danko orders that all surveillance on Noah be pulled immediately to aid in the search. Nathan seems surprised the Hunter spies on his own men. Danko responds that no one is above suspicion, least of all Noah and Nathan; their protection of Claire taints their decisions and judgment. Nathan asks point-blank if he, too, is being watched, and Danko wryly responds that he hardly touched his dinner.

Mohinder is checking Noah's vitals, becoming more and more uncomfortable with the process and the pain Matt is inflicting. He believes Matt could be gentler, but his desire for revenge against Daphne's killers is getting to him. Mohinder again argues that their actions are unethical and likens their approach to torture. Matt replies that Bennet has the explanations, and his method is the only way to get information. Peter is also concerned that Matt is being sadistic, but agrees that they need what Noah knows, so Matt resumes his inquisition.

Four weeks before, Noah is at home in Costa Verde doing a crossword, when Sandra interrupts to remind him of an engagement that evening. She made a dinner date with another couple who're on the PTA at Lyle's school, and he is running out of time to get ready. She puts a coaster on the table and sets his mug down on top of it, and tells him it's nice to have him around and goes upstairs. A knock at the door rouses Noah from his thoughts, and he answers to find Nathan asking for a minute of his time. Nathan tells him he has set in motion a chain of events that will change everything. Noah panics and demands to know what he's done. Nathan responds by telling Noah he acted only to "help people" - the same reason Noah joined the Company, all those years ago. Nathan tells him the Company was never up to the task of dealing with the evolved human threat, but the US government has the power and the resources to fight it effectively. Their plan, he explains is to lock up everyone with an ability - naturally excepting himself. Noah asks if Claire is also an exception and the senator replies that she could be. Noah warns that he'll be reviled by everyone with powers as a villain, and that he won't be able to hide his actions from his daugther. Nathan answers that he's done terrible things, and seeks a chance to make things right. He requests Noah's help, and Noah escorts him to his storage room. It is filled with souvenirs from his years with the Company - files, money and an arsenal of weapons. Noah tells him what he needs to succeed in his roundup is perspective - and even though he is no longer a Company man, he could never be just a family man.

Matt surfaces from the memory and reveals that Nathan instigated it all. When Peter fails to react, he angrily repeats himself. Peter responds that there's nothing he can do about it. Mohinder remarks that they aren't going to get anything useful from Bennet's memories, and Matt explodes at him. He accuses Mohinder of secretly wanting to be caught, and believing he deserves his fate for his past bad actions. A shocked Mohinder asks Matt if he's now reading his mind, too; Matt replies that he doesn't need to use his powers, as Mohinder is an open book. In turn, Mohinder accuses Matt of torturing Noah for his role in Daphne's death. Matt, still stinging from the mention of Daphne, writes down the address and lock combination of Noah's storage unit so Mohinder can check it out and get out of his hair. Instead, Peter takes the note and flies there, uncovers Noah's stockpile of arms, and begins to steal them. A hidden surveillance camera in the room alerts Danko and Nathan to Peter's activities. Danko orders a squad to kill him, but Nathan belays the order and tells them to take Peter alive, even at the cost of the squad's lives. The team secure the hall outside the unit, but Peter throws a stun grenade through the door, allowing him to escape and fly away.

Noah, shaking off the effects of the drug, tells Matt that by giving Peter the location of his storage locker, he ensured that Peter would be captured or killed. He posits that if Peter were captured, his employers would soon know where the group were holding Noah, and their only chance is to let him go and flee. Mohinder agrees, but Matt refuses to accept it as a possibility. When Noah refuses to show Matt who he's working with, Matt simply forces him.

Three weeks earlier, Noah, Nathan, and Danko are talking about the system they will use to capture evolved humans. Noah suggests the "one of us, one of them" system used by Primatech; Danko disagrees, advocating an overwhelming force of normal people, as people with abilities cannot be trusted. Danko provokes Noah, calling the Company a mess; he responds by saying he managed to keep the existence of abilities secret for 30 years, and implies Danko is a bigot. Danko tells him not to presume to know anything about him. Noah is dismayed to learn that he isn't in charge as Nathan promised he would be. Noah then recalls entering Mohinder's taxi. He asks for Mohinder's help and says that his unique perspective, combined with Noah's skills, could save lives if they work together to stop the government's scheme.

Matt breaks his connection with Bennet and immediately returns to reality, accusing Mohinder of knowing what would happen and failing to warn everyone. Their argument escalates, and a fight breaks out. In the commotion, neither of them notice Noah's escape.

Their fight is forgotten as they search for Noah, who is hiding behind a car. He breaks into the car and attempts to hotwire it. Before he can get the car running, Peter lands on the windshield. The group recaptures him and returns to the room with him. Peter states they don't have much time, as the government found him. Noah and Mohinder concur, but Matt argues that they need to know who's in charge. The fight threatens to break out again before Peter focuses Matt on getting the information from Bennet, but this time they proceed without drugs.

One week earlier, Noah goes to Danko's apartment to discuss their mission and to get better acquainted. A contemptuous Danko tells Noah that he lost sight of his mission while at Primatech, and his split focus made (and makes) him weak. Noah says he knows people like him, too, and that his single-minded devotion to mission makes him overconfident. Noah tells Danko that that he is treating them like terrorists, and that it's wrong to do so. Danko unsubtly reminds Noah that he's the boss, and he can either continue his life's work or continue to undermine him. Noah accepts defeat, agreeing to follow Danko's orders.

As they return to reality, Noah begs Matt to just let it go. He warns that going after the man in his memory will unravel everything and they'll all be dead. Nevertheless, Matt gives Peter the address. Bennet instead pleads with Peter to abandon his effort before he does something terrible, with ramifications he can't understand. His attempts fall on deaf ears, and Peter flies off to murder the man in charge. Moments after he departs, government vehicles flood into the parking lot of the hotel.

Danko arrives at home, apparently directing the impending raid on the hotel room. As he turns on the lights and his computer, he turns to find Peter behind him, holding him at gunpoint. In the command center, an analyst immediately sees Peter in Danko's apartment on a hidden camera and calls for the senator. Instead of sending a team, Nathan takes matters in to his own hands. Back in the apartment, Danko walks into the gun and tells Peter to go ahead and shoot him. Danko disabuses Peter of his belief in his own innocence, and tells Peter he's willing to die to get what he wants. Nathan appears from the hall, telling Peter that this is a bad idea. Danko is astonished to see him, and wonders how he got there so fast. Nathan reminds Peter that this isn't like him; Peter responds by shooting Danko in the shoulder. Nathan pleads, telling him that if he kills Danko, nothing will be able to stop the extermination order. In a last-ditch effort to save his operative, Nathan tells Peter that a squad is about to move on Matt and Mohinder. Peter edges out the window and flies to their aid. Danko questions why Nathan would have told him about the capture move, Nathan replies it was in order to save Danko's life. Danko quickly orders the team to move on the hotel.

Danko's team is kicking in every door, trying to find their targets. Matt aims a gun at Noah, who volunteers that Daphne is alive... and if Matt wants to check, Noah won't fight him. Given the choice to escape or to know, Matt decides he has to confirm that Daphne is still alive, but knows he has no time. Mohinder says that he'll hold them off so that Matt has the time he needs to uncover the memory.

Two days ago, Noah is walking along a corridor in Building 26. He passes Danko, and hears Daphne screaming in agony on a gurney just ahead of him. Noah recognizes her, telling the nurses that it will take three times the normal dosage to keep her down.

In the parking lot, Mohinder uses his strength to gain the attention of the squad. He catches two commandos off-guard; after throwing them around like toys, he begins to run. The rest of the team brings him down with sedative darts before he reaches the end of the hotel's driveway.

Back in the room, Matt levels the gun at Noah's head as the agents begin to break down the door. Noah tells him he can't stop it as the team rush in to capture him. Matt lowers his weapon, and the agents tackle him. They attach a drug shunt, and the freed Noah asks to escort Matt out. As they reach the bottom of the stairs, a stun grenade falls from the sky and explodes at Noah's feet. In the confusion, Peter rescues Matt and flies away with him.

In a cell in Building 26, Mohinder is shackled to a chair much as Tracy was. His arms are bound to a large metal bar, preventing his escape. Nathan enters the room, and Mohinder is awakened with a bucket of water. Nathan tells him the government is involved now, and the plane was taking them to a containment facility. When Mohinder mocks his plan, Nathan reveals the second half of his scheme: Mohinder, leading a team of the world's best scientists, will find a way to "cure" abilities. He laughs at this, and struggles against his bonds, but the metal bar and leather restraints are more than a match for his strength. Nathan gives him an ultimatum: join him and work for a cure, or he, Daphne, Peter, Matt - everyone will be killed.

Danko and Noah discuss the kidnapping, and Danko suggests Noah take a few days off. Noah scoffs, and tells him there's nothing left for him but work, and he'll no longer suffer from split focus. He asks if his boss still doubts his undying loyalty, to which Danko replies that Peter's cell knew about his storage unit. Noah retorts that by giving the rebels his storage unit, he handed them to Danko's team; it was only their incompetence that let them get away. Danko takes a conspiratorial tone, telling Bennet that Nathan lets his personal interests get in the way of their mission, and he needs Noah's help to escalate their war. Noah agrees with no hesitation. He strolls over to park bench and sits down next to Angela Petrelli. Hinting that she's still his master, she counsels that he'll have to prove his loyalty to them, and he'll be forced to make hard decisions. Noah reminds her he's always been comfortable with morally gray.

Now escaped to Isaac's loft, Matt is in a precognitive trance, and has painted several images of himself with what appear to be pipe bombs strapped to his chest. Matt panics, but when Peter assures him he could never be a mass murderer, Matt gestures at the floor. Where Isaac's painting of New York exploding once was, there now stands a depiction of a nuclear explosion in Washington, DC. Matt begs Peter to explain how he's not a mass murderer, given what lies before them.

There are lots of similarities between Company Man and Cold Wars. Noah is being held hostage by Matt and his ally/allies once again. Matt uses his ability to dig out truths from Noah. Noah tries to think in another language to prevent Matt from getting into his head. Flashbacks are shown in black and white. Tragedy is in store for Matt's allies. Only a single storyline is told. The episode is the 17th of the season.